Pennies From Heaven.

The alarm clock sounded at 6:45 am Alaska Standard Time but I had already been awake in anticipation of another day. Sunday brought a break from our dreary weather and I was hopeful that Monday would be more of the same. I could feel the sunshine peaking around the blinds in my bedroom and remained hopeful.

After a quick shower and a change in to school appropriate clothes, I stayed with the routine and headed to the kitchen for my Apples & Cinnamon Oatmeal. Because of the inquisitive eyes of some village rugrats, most of the windows of Senior Housing need to be covered at all times. The one window above our kitchen is high and guarded and therefore usually open to let in the light of the world. Today it was full of sunshine.

“Another glorious Monday in the Arctic”, I thought and kept on my routine.

In two short weeks of school, I’ve quickly learned that no matter how early or how late I get to school, the minute I enter my classroom I am going to get regular visitors. No matter the workload that I might attempt to take care of or how I try to prepare for the day…visitors of all shapes and sizes require attention. I have yet to  successfully use my morning prep. And so with that, I’ve learned to leave Senior Housing closer to the mandated clock hours than I would typically. Call it what you want.

Today I grabbed my things, slid on my jacket and readied myself for the 23 yard commute but when I threw open the cunnychuck door, I almost dropped my computer in astonishment. There was skim ice on the puddles. The ground had frost. The gravel rocks of “mainstreet” Kivalina were stiff with the cold air.

August 31^st, 2015 and it got cold enough to freeze the puddles! Awesome.

I walked over and cracked through the thin layer because it’s written in the Constitution or something that you’re supposed to do that. I smiled, turned towards school and was on my way for my morning prayers and commute.

*Oh yeah to make things even better…the sun stayed out all day and before supper, I went for a run on the beach wearing shorts and sunglasses. Well, I was wearing other things too. It wasn’t that warm.

*And it’s PAYDAY! My take home Net Income will easily exceed my Gross income for 2014. (Just in case anyone besides Michele really cares)

Inupiaq Vocab of the day for the Peanut Gallery - A cunnychuck (qanichaq) is the eskimo word for an Arctic entry way. What you might call a mudroom or back on the Ridge we called them “entryways”. (Clever, I know.)